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I've seen the mention if a vise made from cheap pipe clamps, one that can even hold a guitar body without damage. I'm searched the forum and internet and have not found details or plans.

Is this vise worthwhile? Do you know where to find plans or some good pictures?

I want to include one in a new workbench if it makes sense.

Thanks for all the help.

Ed

Hi Ed,

You don't really need plans...they are cheap...they DO work.
Get a couple of flanges, some 1' black pipe nipples (threaded both ends, ya know), a couple of 3/4" pipe clamps, and some off-cuts of 1/4" plywood. Mount the flanges on a piece of the bench at an appropriate width appart, and you can screw in or unscrew those bits of pipe as needed. (I leave the clamps on the pipe and screw the whole thing in or out as the need arises...and they break down when the job is finished.)
The "holders" are made from that 1/4" plywood, notched to fit over the pipes, with some cardboard taped to the inner faces to protect delicate wood. Well, here's a pic:




Hope that helps,

Steve

P.S.--I also put on some of that pipe insulation around the black pipes to protect the guitar.

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Ed-
Edit:Steve got the pic and explanation up while I was typing! Gotta be fast here.

I don't know if this is what you are looking for- a guitar holder.
http://www.wellsguitars.com/Articles/Guitar_Holder.php
I've got one and it works well, and is 'demountable' as well.
A 'drop in' spacer or two is handy if you ever work on thin-body guitars. 1/2" pipe works fine. Foam pipe insulation as Steve mentions, as well.
Discussion at http://www.kitguitarsforum.com/forum/threads.php?id=169_0_5_0_C

If you have the space, a 'Troji' is very useful. Rod True wrote up some excellent plans. I can email you the .pdf (send me a pm) or you can contact Rod here at OLF.

Cheers
John

Rather than cardboard, I use those 12" x 12" cork squares that are approx. 1/8" thick that they sell at Home Depot or Lowes for bulletin boards.

im dying to get some of those pipe clamps but cant find any locally
anyone know if theirs another name for them ..
or what are they made for ?

Check this out :

http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?t=1427

_________________
CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
_____________________________________________

Here's another approach....just pop in foam pads & it's ready.

_________________
Dave
Milton, ON

Here is one we used at school - worked very well and not expensive to build. They used cork to keep the guitar from getting scratched.



Another shot of it:

Inspired by this thread, I put a simple one together (pipe-clamp with 1/8 ply covered in felt) with little effort and even less time. After doing this, I had to stop smacking myself in the forehead and yelling 'why didn't I do this earlier'!

One thing I decided to do different is to glue strong magnets to the ply so they stay stuck to the metal pipe clamp faces, but are east to remove. Makes them stick together for storage too.

Thanks all for this grand idea!

-Matthew

A little late, perhaps, but here is my version.

I use a pair of long pipe clamps that go through holes in the skirt and a cross piece under my work table. This means I can pull out the "vise" if I want better access to the instrument from both sides.

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I made mine so it clamps to the bench, so it's 20 seconds to mount or
dismount it. Pipe insulation on the exposed pipes cushions the guitar
sides.

_________________
Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain